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Population in Cameroon compared to Malawi: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,879,337 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 31,045,453 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 1.34 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.8% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 31M (76.9% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Cameroon vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Malawi
2100 89,761,493 59,773,923
2099 89,236,081 59,515,624
2098 88,700,571 59,263,165
2097 88,148,423 59,015,654
2096 87,584,533 58,749,288
2095 87,012,755 58,495,699
2094 86,422,461 58,227,933
2093 85,823,264 57,954,358
2092 85,216,516 57,660,371
2091 84,591,510 57,364,786
2090 83,955,258 57,048,240
2089 83,304,250 56,727,243
2088 82,644,527 56,385,237
2087 81,971,087 56,041,651
2086 81,292,292 55,694,983
2085 80,596,814 55,336,839
2084 79,893,144 54,985,304
2083 79,174,449 54,593,349
2082 78,447,054 54,194,853
2081 77,705,764 53,783,781
2080 76,946,674 53,361,334
2079 76,185,626 52,936,889
2078 75,414,998 52,510,645
2077 74,632,426 52,052,767
2076 73,846,385 51,589,339
2075 73,045,925 51,130,762
2074 72,232,083 50,673,499
2073 71,416,307 50,218,991
2072 70,587,575 49,759,232
2071 69,756,436 49,276,570
2070 68,920,850 48,787,471
2069 68,080,121 48,291,287
2068 67,236,365 47,782,059
2067 66,384,714 47,267,335
2066 65,524,711 46,741,998
2065 64,661,065 46,218,226
2064 63,793,364 45,692,044
2063 62,925,133 45,169,634
2062 62,051,886 44,629,192
2061 61,174,588 44,067,259
2060 60,289,485 43,499,372
2059 59,400,116 42,907,491
2058 58,506,347 42,335,782
2057 57,609,734 41,753,105
2056 56,718,154 41,175,330
2055 55,825,018 40,576,247
2054 54,922,920 39,986,120
2053 54,020,742 39,369,178
2052 53,110,977 38,758,577
2051 52,204,288 38,145,141
2050 51,302,617 37,537,814
2049 50,395,223 36,928,354
2048 49,490,600 36,332,040
2047 48,582,238 35,717,466
2046 47,678,096 35,099,651
2045 46,779,348 34,484,520
2044 45,880,138 33,855,018
2043 44,989,272 33,240,675
2042 44,093,888 32,629,513
2041 43,194,408 32,012,581
2040 42,307,249 31,395,572
2039 41,421,572 30,775,878
2038 40,545,218 30,160,239
2037 39,674,106 29,521,489
2036 38,807,341 28,890,318
2035 37,954,978 28,261,909
2034 37,107,744 27,637,439
2033 36,270,943 27,012,311
2032 35,438,930 26,398,409
2031 34,618,857 25,790,366
2030 33,804,320 25,176,420
2029 33,002,520 24,561,210
2028 32,206,806 23,962,931
2027 31,421,882 23,369,575
2026 30,647,877 22,786,713
2025 29,879,337 22,216,120
2024 29,123,744 21,655,286
2023 28,372,687 21,104,482
2022 27,632,771 20,568,728
2021 26,915,758 20,047,258
2020 26,210,558 19,533,888
2019 25,506,095 19,025,752
2018 24,806,383 18,528,081
2017 24,128,601 18,039,715
2016 23,454,161 17,557,739
2015 22,763,414 17,085,587
2014 22,059,893 16,621,538
2013 21,402,376 16,161,816
2012 20,809,529 15,709,577
2011 20,232,304 15,265,022
2010 19,668,066 14,826,463
2009 19,113,974 14,395,788
2008 18,574,056 13,976,417
2007 18,049,896 13,576,343
2006 17,550,407 13,198,701
2005 17,074,594 12,840,031
2004 16,610,487 12,500,737
2003 16,160,340 12,181,574
2002 15,725,528 11,880,440
2001 15,309,490 11,593,058
2000 14,912,631 11,315,942
1999 14,525,140 11,047,804
1998 14,144,860 10,792,876
1997 13,775,214 10,562,035
1996 13,414,757 10,352,228
1995 13,058,516 10,150,117
1994 12,704,903 10,164,894
1993 12,353,131 10,284,024
1992 12,006,353 10,135,079
1991 11,667,180 9,844,227
1990 11,331,821 9,545,852
1989 11,002,745 9,176,220
1988 10,684,968 8,753,262
1987 10,370,749 8,293,174
1986 10,060,342 7,906,480
1985 9,761,730 7,620,508
1984 9,475,078 7,332,810
1983 9,215,397 7,051,709
1982 9,028,678 6,778,879
1981 8,816,377 6,516,454
1980 8,512,219 6,265,529
1979 8,239,641 6,028,749
1978 8,011,921 5,810,132
1977 7,796,501 5,614,983
1976 7,597,962 5,443,384
1975 7,397,120 5,287,367
1974 7,193,583 5,141,337
1973 6,996,660 5,003,938
1972 6,806,872 4,874,475
1971 6,624,408 4,751,434
1970 6,449,793 4,633,944
1969 6,283,462 4,521,184
1968 6,125,863 4,411,054
1967 5,977,318 4,303,012
1966 5,837,295 4,197,926
1965 5,704,686 4,096,157
1964 5,578,257 3,997,305
1963 5,456,623 3,900,506
1962 5,338,620 3,806,307
1961 5,239,273 3,715,534
1960 5,159,057 3,628,134

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,591,292 people (a 32.4% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 65.3% to 51,302,617 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Malawi
2100 0.59% 0.43%
2099 0.6% 0.43%
2098 0.63% 0.42%
2097 0.64% 0.45%
2096 0.66% 0.43%
2095 0.68% 0.46%
2094 0.7% 0.47%
2093 0.71% 0.51%
2092 0.74% 0.52%
2091 0.76% 0.55%
2090 0.78% 0.57%
2089 0.8% 0.61%
2088 0.82% 0.61%
2087 0.84% 0.62%
2086 0.86% 0.65%
2085 0.88% 0.64%
2084 0.91% 0.72%
2083 0.93% 0.74%
2082 0.95% 0.76%
2081 0.99% 0.79%
2080 1% 0.8%
2079 1.02% 0.81%
2078 1.05% 0.88%
2077 1.06% 0.9%
2076 1.1% 0.9%
2075 1.13% 0.9%
2074 1.14% 0.91%
2073 1.17% 0.92%
2072 1.19% 0.98%
2071 1.21% 1%
2070 1.23% 1.03%
2069 1.25% 1.07%
2068 1.28% 1.09%
2067 1.31% 1.12%
2066 1.34% 1.13%
2065 1.36% 1.15%
2064 1.38% 1.16%
2063 1.41% 1.21%
2062 1.43% 1.28%
2061 1.47% 1.31%
2060 1.5% 1.38%
2059 1.53% 1.35%
2058 1.56% 1.4%
2057 1.57% 1.4%
2056 1.6% 1.48%
2055 1.64% 1.48%
2054 1.67% 1.57%
2053 1.71% 1.58%
2052 1.74% 1.61%
2051 1.76% 1.62%
2050 1.8% 1.65%
2049 1.83% 1.64%
2048 1.87% 1.72%
2047 1.9% 1.76%
2046 1.92% 1.78%
2045 1.96% 1.86%
2044 1.98% 1.85%
2043 2.03% 1.87%
2042 2.08% 1.93%
2041 2.1% 1.97%
2040 2.14% 2.01%
2039 2.16% 2.04%
2038 2.2% 2.16%
2037 2.23% 2.18%
2036 2.25% 2.22%
2035 2.28% 2.26%
2034 2.31% 2.31%
2033 2.35% 2.33%
2032 2.37% 2.36%
2031 2.41% 2.44%
2030 2.43% 2.5%
2029 2.47% 2.5%
2028 2.5% 2.54%
2027 2.53% 2.56%
2026 2.57% 2.57%
2025 2.59% 2.59%
2024 2.65% 2.61%
2023 2.68% 2.6%
2022 2.66% 2.6%
2021 2.69% 2.63%
2020 2.76% 2.67%
2019 2.82% 2.69%
2018 2.81% 2.71%
2017 2.88% 2.75%
2016 3.03% 2.76%
2015 3.19% 2.79%
2014 3.07% 2.84%
2013 2.85% 2.88%
2012 2.85% 2.91%
2011 2.87% 2.96%
2010 2.9% 2.99%
2009 2.91% 3%
2008 2.9% 2.95%
2007 2.85% 2.86%
2006 2.79% 2.79%
2005 2.79% 2.71%
2004 2.79% 2.62%
2003 2.77% 2.53%
2002 2.72% 2.48%
2001 2.66% 2.45%
2000 2.67% 2.43%
1999 2.69% 2.36%
1998 2.68% 2.19%
1997 2.69% 2.03%
1996 2.73% 1.99%
1995 2.78% -0.15%
1994 2.85% -1.16%
1993 2.89% 1.47%
1992 2.91% 2.95%
1991 2.96% 3.13%
1990 2.99% 4.03%
1989 2.97% 4.83%
1988 3.03% 5.55%
1987 3.09% 4.89%
1986 3.06% 3.75%
1985 3.03% 3.92%
1984 2.82% 3.99%
1983 2.07% 4.02%
1982 2.41% 4.03%
1981 3.57% 4%
1980 3.31% 3.93%
1979 2.84% 3.76%
1978 2.76% 3.48%
1977 2.61% 3.15%
1976 2.72% 2.95%
1975 2.83% 2.84%
1974 2.81% 2.75%
1973 2.79% 2.66%
1972 2.75% 2.59%
1971 2.71% 2.54%
1970 2.65% 2.49%
1969 2.57% 2.5%
1968 2.49% 2.51%
1967 2.4% 2.5%
1966 2.32% 2.48%
1965 2.27% 2.47%
1964 2.23% 2.48%
1963 2.21% 2.47%
1962 1.9% 2.44%
1961 1.55% 2.41%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.59%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Malawi
Current population
31045453
23086106
Population rank 51/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.28%
One net population change
41.9 seconds
56.4 seconds
One birth every
32.5 seconds
46.8 seconds
One death every
2.57 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,070 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +755,593 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 22/197 23/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -15,379 -5,628
Net migration rank 146/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -5,628
2024 766,304 -13,892 559,811 -1,507
2023 754,486 -4,798 549,096 -5,811
2022 734,893 -4,798 533,450 -5,231
2021 713,806 -9,888 517,400 -2,666
2020 716,361 -9,888 514,659 -2,655
2019 714,681 -12,255 506,104 -1,837
2018 706,188 -9,184 494,348 -3,267
2017 696,496 -37,912 484,655 982
2016 677,051 13,255 474,779 3,505
2015 649,190 42,008 472,484 -6,471
2014 619,243 96,599 472,418 -10,317
2013 606,072 -6,900 470,293 -12,934
2012 594,029 -7,523 460,684 -13,561
2011 580,607 -12,669 454,149 -12,170
2010 569,921 -9,366 444,468 -9,327
2009 557,841 -10,203 434,811 -8,590
2008 542,919 -10,720 421,781 -9,264
2007 526,949 -10,807 410,290 -22,680
2006 511,366 -28,528 397,123 -29,450
2005 496,547 -27,775 381,130 -31,462
2004 478,880 -19,444 361,133 -32,221
2003 459,422 -18,568 341,133 -31,729
2002 439,544 -10,766 322,863 -30,013
2001 422,511 -19,203 310,833 -28,933
2000 411,633 -21,221 300,439 -28,098
1999 401,969 -17,398 295,629 -31,686
1998 388,432 -12,446 285,407 -39,491
1997 377,138 -13,842 277,433 -61,646
1996 370,355 -12,738 270,048 -66,212
1995 367,532 -12,661 266,745 -66,366
1994 364,390 -12,028 275,439 -505,365
1993 360,785 -9,601 276,538 -284,867
1992 356,072 -13,702 269,066 37,142
1991 350,493 -14,520 260,193 15,291
1990 342,901 -8,163 250,159 71,111
1989 334,649 -11,244 237,967 180,031
1988 328,168 -16,016 226,911 201,011
1987 320,134 -3,829 220,566 271,693
1986 308,188 -3,671 218,519 62,615
1985 296,317 -3,604 216,179 74,625
1984 284,110 -3,512 212,146 72,435
1983 276,112 -37,346 209,422 68,197
1982 274,652 -139,974 205,386 62,661
1981 262,076 27,845 199,436 57,376
1980 247,808 70,589 192,746 52,294
1979 238,875 -12,108 182,123 46,388
1978 229,958 -1,282 172,503 36,225
1977 222,785 -20,622 161,930 19,638
1976 214,916 -19,994 153,422 8,206
1975 206,986 -237 145,254 5,162
1974 200,693 -377 137,819 3,833
1973 193,997 -466 131,529 1,623
1972 186,521 -473 125,728 48
1971 179,317 -439 121,015 -710
1970 170,713 -367 116,822 -2,147
1969 162,603 -286 113,120 -2,266
1968 153,080 -204 110,329 -924
1967 144,370 -148 106,668 0
1966 135,927 -96 103,512 0
1965 129,428 -39 100,040 0
1964 123,469 0 97,658 0
1963 119,784 0 95,933 0
1962 116,232 0 92,463 0
1961 82,471 0 89,091 0
1960 77,948 0 85,718 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/malawi | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 7,129,456 people) and 0.66% is from migration (a loss of 47,352 people). In Malawi 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/malawi | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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